Rotary straw deck and sieveless chaffer



March 4', 1958 H w. sTRExcH' ErAL ROTARY sTRAw DECK AND sIEvEr-Ess GHAFFER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29,l 1953 @n mn March 4, 1958 w.sTRE1cH ETAL ROTARY sTRAw DECK AND sIEvELEss CHARTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2.9, 1953 United States Patent` ROTARY STRAW DECK AND SIEVELESS CHAFFER William Streich and Frederick H. Streich, Clandeboye, Manitoba, and Frank McBain, Redditt, ntario, Canada applicati@ october 29, 1953, serial No. 388,975

1 Claim. (ci. 209-32) Our invention relates to new and useful improvements in combines, and more particularly to the provision of a rotary straw deck for combines, the principal object of our invention being to provide a device of the character herewithin described which eliminates entirely the conventional reciprocating straw deck and associated chang unit.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described whereby the threshed grain, straw and chaff is discharged into the rotary straw deck, whereupon the separation of the straw n from the grain and chaff takes place, the straw being discharged from the end of the drum or rotary deck.

Another object of our invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes a sieveless chatter adapted to separate grain and chad cornponents by means of an air blast, acting at right angles to the direction of travel of the straw.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is virtually impossible to overload in direct contrast to the conventional reciprocating straw deck, which is easily overloaded when an extremely heavy stand of grain is encountered. ln this connection, it will be appreciated that the conventional reciprocating straw deck permits the straw and grain to build up in layers when heavy stands are encountered, thus reducing the elciency of the reciprocation, so that a considerable amount of grain is discharged over the end of the deck with the straw under the circumstances.

A further object of our invention is t-o provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the straw, grain and chai are tumbled due to the rotation of the straw deck, thus permitting free fall of the grain, which assists materially in the separation thereof.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the air blast volume is automatically adjusted depending upon the load of threshed grain passing through the machine.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which contains considerably less moving parts than the conventional combine and is, therefore, economical in manufacture, relatively simple in construction, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, our invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of our device, sectioned in part, and fragmented in part the section being substantially along the lines of the Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a cross-section, fragmentary view of our device taken just forwardly of the rotary straw deck.

ECS

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the vair blowers used in our device, various parts being broken away and sectioned for clarity.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view lof one end of the rotary straw deck with some parts in section.

Figure 5 is a rear view of the straw deck per se illustraing the various drive means but on a reduced scale.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the diierent gures.

Proceeding now to describe our invention in detail, it will be seen upon reference to the accompanying drawings that we have illustrated a conventional combine including a reel i, cutter bar 2 and elevating canvas table 3, together with an implement hitch 4, which may be attached to an associated tractor (not illustrated), said tractor providing, via its power take-oi, a common drive shaft 5.

However, it is to be appreciated that the device hereinafter to be described, could be manufactured as a self propelled combine rather than the tractor operated type illustrated. The hitch d is connected to the framework 6 of the combine, which in turn is supported upon a pair of ground engaging wheels 7 carried upon axles 8. The elevating canvas table 3 is adapted to discharge the cut grain into a conventional threshing cylinder collectively designated 9 and consisting of rasp bars 1d and a concave 1?., said cylinder being rotatable in the direction of arrow 12, and driven by means of a pulley 13 and belt (not illustrated) conne-cted to the drive shaft 5 in the conventional manner.

Within the main body id of the combine, We have provided supporting structure l5 comprising longitudinals 16, vertical members l? and transverse member i8, thus forming a boxlike structure collectively designated 13', within which is supported our rotary straw deck collectively designated 19.

Reference to Figure l and 4 show the details of construction of this rotary straw deck, which comprises a plurality of circumferentially disposed bands 2@ in spaced and parallel relationship, the end ones 2 of which take the form of right angled material having the horizontal ange 22 parallel to the rotary straw deck and the vertical tlange 23 at right angles thereto, upon the edge of which is secured a circular cross-section rod 24.

A plurality of longitudinal and spaced slats 25 are secured to the horizontal ianges 22 of the bands 21 and to the faces 29 of the remaining bands 20 by means of angulated clips 26 and reference to Figure 2 and 4 will show that these slats are substantially triangular in crosssection, with the apices 27 facing inwardly. These slats thus provide spaces 2S therebetween through which grain and chaff may be deposited, as will hereinafter be described, but in order to retain the straw within the drum, we have provided a plurality of circumferential wires 29 secured to the outer faces 3@ of the slats and in spaced and parallel relationship with the bands.

It should also be noted at this point that the slats spiral rearwardly slightly occasioned by a difference in relationship of the point of attachment of the slats to the forward band to the points of attachment on the rear band and this spiraling, together with the rotation of the drum, urges straw from the intake end of the drum rearwardly and discharges same from the rearward end thereof.

The aforo-mentioned drum 19, which is open ended, is mounted upon two pairs of rollers, one pair 31 being adjacent the forward end 32 of the drum and the other pair 33 being adjacent the rear end 34 thereof.

Each of these rollers is journalled upon a shaft 34 supported for rotation within bearings 35 inl turn secured to cross-members iS and .reference to Figure 9 l Situa'ted1belowtherdrum 19V is=-a cati en Y in Y SOWS ille Jpnoningnfthese rollers' in* order *to-asupf'r portthe drumfor rotation therewithin. YIn this connecf,

tion, reference should be made to the a'fore-m'entioned'V circular cross-sectioned maribel-'24, which `is' adapted to i l :engage within;groovesfformedginthearollerslrand'a.

- .Tl 1e;driye -forgrotationof thedrum isprovidedhy fhelt 37 extending around the rear band 2 L`fasf-clearlygshown ,and to'one side, of the rotary4 straw :deck d., Y

This triple pulley is mounted `upon the end of an .auger ifiight-fshaft 33,;vlhich will hereinafterrbe described, hut

atthispont,mention Vshould be. ma'de of VFigureS, which Y Y ifsrhows-,aybelt Y39 extendingaround` one` of-.thepsheaves of the triple pulleylandgaround adovuble Vpulley-4.0, Vr\.vhich, .is securedto a .ma-inx;driv..e A.shaft -zdl aand; is connected to --therdriye shaftj bynconventionalzgmeans (not Y illustrated).

'Y Reference ,toFigure Ziwill showthat we llaveprcviderlV ai semi-cylindrical housingAZ extendingloverjrhe vmajor portion Qfgthedrurn andgspaeedslightly. therefrom. v.The

. leftkhand. endi Y(with-relation t'oFignrel). ofthelmusing, is angulated 'outwardly and upwardlyrto form the .upper wall 44 of a idischarge outlety 45 .sand the` right v.hand end -46 of; kthe housing (also with relation to Figure 2) terminates Vadjacentlhe right hand `pulley 31.

:spaced fromthe righthande'nd 46 yof .the housing isa shroud 47 :extending upwardly andv forminganl air inlet duct 48 ;betwe,enthe housing landtheshroud 47 and lsurmounting tbisair inlet duct is a fancollectively .designated 49 and `shownin vdetail in Figure 3. -This'fangcom- V,prises avrrotor 56 withinaa circular open-endedcasing V5l,

A.Saidrmtor being mounted upon shaft 52, which in turn is ;proyide`d1witha.pulley.53 upon one end thereof, over 'which a belt .,54extends-and is connected to Ythe' other-of the double pulleys hereinbefore .referred to. This -fan deliversablast'ofv air throughthe inletaduc't-ftS-which Tcommunicates Vwith housing 42 atvo'ne sidelthereof Vad-Y -jacentthebottom of the deck i9 and dischargesthefair transversely of the bottom-ofsaid deck.l

Rotation Vof `the rotor 'A56 .draws air-into the'endsof the casing 51 and discharges same downwardlythrough the 'outlet casing'SS, which is connected `to the airfinlet ,duct 48 by bolts '48 on similar means and v'it will 'Abe-noted lhat an adjustable ap 56 is situated withinlthe outlet cas- .ing being pivotally mounted upon shaft ,Awhich-in turn is provided withan opposite crankV 158 connected to link-A Y age 59.Y Y Y Keferringback to 1*Figui-e2, /it'will berseen -thaton the left hand side/offthe-drawinggafur'ther shroud or casing Y 160 is curved upwardly towards the discharge'45 and :forrnsnthe opposite wall thereof, said shroudbeingfspaced "ffrom the drum as clearly illustrated thus forming an air .outlet Sduct. '.It will be seen also that a further. ap 6lV is piVotallyH-orswingably secured on -a horizontal axis to 'the outer extremity of theportion244 and is adapted to lie Vwithinthef'aii discharge larea 45 of the outletducnsaid 'flap'.also' having an angulatedY crank 62 `secured thereto, to which the. opposite' end of linkage YS9 is fpivotally attached,.the lpurposevof which ,will hereinafter become apparent. Y

' The fan 49 Vtogether with duct 48 vand shroudsa47 and 'V60` `constitute whatwe .deline as a sieveless chater and Y -it willbe appreciated thatV this cha'ffer is adapted to Yoper-V ate in a direction'atright angles to the longitudinal Laxis of the straw deck, thus permitting an increase' in capacity of the chaierlwith relation to the straw deck without'anyV increase in the space required.Y In other words, a c haier :of conventional ydesign'acts in the `sarnedirectionas 'the straw deck and therefore the available area of air blast effectis'liniitedfto the diameter of the straw deck; With lhis. present design however lthe effective-area of air blast is'llimited'onlyiby the length of the deck -Yand-isgtherefore approximatelyfthree-times as ,great in capacity Cwithout takingiu'p :anymore-space. f Y

V'collecting auger` 263 Y 3,825,456 .A l;

is driven by belt 39', as hereinbefor'eV describedvand is adapted to convey grainflforwardly to Va vsubstantially Y vertical auger 64 mounted within casing V65and extending upwardly Vforwardly of the drum andterrninating in a Ydischarge spout 66, whichrcisV adapted to discharge intoV a conventional grain tank "67 mounted Yupon the `side .of the'act'.'nnliina` jrr-lhisconnection, drivejorlrhe .auger 64 is via a belt. and pnlleyassembly V68, .uponlthe Aupper end thereon,k thelbe'ltextending tofa :convenient` power take-off point on'the machine (not illustrated). Y

In operation, the unit, in this embodiment, isattached toV an` associated :tractor (rnotillustratedthe powertakeV u of? of which is secured .to drive shaftfwhich isV provided Vwith a splined slip jointl70 and auniversal joint 71.

GrainY is cut by the cutter 2 and deposited byl meansjof Y theYreel 1 Vupon the elevating canvas 3, which conveys Vsame tto/.the :threshingrylinder ,9,which threshes. sameV linV the iusual tway. andf'rieposits ithreshedz grain,;zchafand g straw :intostheylinderrzor :drum 19A which :iis .being` re; Y

lVolved,xas hereinhe'foretdescribed. Y

:The straw,..grain`and .chaff mixture '.is 'tumbled .by` the 19, thus ysep'arat'ingout thelgrainand chatlffwhich y passes downwardly through the iHterStCesbetWeen-the vslats, thezstraw beingzconveyedrearwardly by-the YAscrewl Yaction .occasioned bycthe spirallingaof'theslats, 4torhe dis-k Y charged at the-rear end'Y thereoflontoatheground-inthe Y vusual way.

tween the slats'is =metr by l .thegair"blast travelling atright `angles 1o .the longitudinalfaxis-I of :the .deck passingedown :airinlet duct.48,:whichcarriesthe chai` aroundthe shroud Y' lzandiout-o'f the .dischargefli thefggrain;'beingheavien being depositedL adjacent 'the-langer YS3, toA he? conveyedto the grain tank 67. f

'In 'order@toupreventV the'airblast'interfeiing--with the tumbling a'ction fof .thef drum, s we have-provided' afap 7 2 :pivotally securedfto the lower end ofi the lleft lhand g side .oflhousing (with :reference to .Figurer 2) V said `flap, rest- Y ing against the fwall ofthe drum and Abeing provided with anti-friction vrollers-73 toen'sure--quiet operationandfto :prevent straw from beingfrlledl-upwardly and doggingr `the undersideof the ap.

.From theforegoing description, Yitlwillfhe appreciated 'that the tumblingfactionwhich carries vthe-straw partillyj around the drum-fbeforefdropping-same vertically across same, prevents overloading oc'cturing, Vasa-strawi'leck'of .Y i this.:type-cannot-becomechokedfby succeeding-layers of.Y

straw. j 1 Y Howeverfwhen ajrelativelyfheavy Vstandy of -grain Y:is

reached, the air blast pass/ingl'acros'sthe base ofthe Q tends to be restrict'edmomentarily V'by-the-'volr1rne,;o f Y .grain and Veliai passingftherethrough and the1self-adjust -ing'air blast controlV means lcollectively'"designated 61'" operates, Whichperrnits the 4bafieftil' toffallj'inwardlyeor to close, .urged 1'by gravityyit beingY-.understoodthat 'nor- -mally this "flap is -keptin-ethe'open 'positionbyjthe preslsure of air J'going therepast.

' However-,when thisap%1lfalls, fthe linkage 59 which is operatiyelygconnectedtoilap.56actuatesjthis liapf Y in the VblowerY unit and f opens; the Y passageway, Ait"` being understood that this, flap` is normallysubstant'ially,V closed thereby'permitting a greater .volume of, air to pass through g spirit and scope of the claim without departing from-jisnch spiritfad=scope,`litfjis ntendedthat'all matter contained:

AThe-,grain andtchai falling.throughthe:intersticesfbein the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What we claim as our invention is:

In a grain combine, the combination of a rotary straw deck, a housing enclosing the same, an air inlet duct communicating with said housing at one side thereof adjacent the bottom of said deck, an air outlet duct provided at the other side of said housing, a fan on said inlet duct for delivering a blast of air transversely of the bottom of said deck through said outlet duct, and selfadjusting air blast control means comprising a rst flap swingable on a horizontal axis in said outlet duct and urged by gravity to a substantially closed position when material in said deck obstructs the air blast therethrough,

a second ap pivotally mounted in said inlet duct and 15 6 disposed in a substantially closed position when said rst flap is open by an air blast through the outlet duct, and linkage operatively connecting the first flap to the second ap whereby the latter may be opened by closing of the former.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 929,157 McBride July 27, 1909 1,063,834 Schesser June 3, 1913 1,226,441 Atterbury May 15, 1917 1,254,750 Wieler Jan. 29, 1918 1,907,344 Climer May 2, 1933 

